Burial casket



Oct. 16 1923.

Filed May 4,

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gvwentoz flasae/ZZ 620i qmmm Oct. 16, 1923., 1,471,244

- R. D. COOK BURIAL CASKET Filed May 4. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I GUM-410124 Patented Get '16, 1923.

UNITED STATES RUSSELLVD. coo or SALT LAKE crrv, UTAHQ BURIAL oasxnr.

Application filed May 4, 1922. Serial No. 558,383.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, RUssELL D. CooK,--a

citizen of the United States,residing at Salt Lake City,in the countyof Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Burial Caskets; and I do declare the following tobe a'full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the. art no to which it appertains to make-and use the same. v

This invention relates to an improved burial casket, and it has for its principal object to provide one which is composed of 16 a comparatively cheap wooden box in which the body is placed, said box being placed within a shell or sham provided with a unique means for connecting the shell and box together, this means being such in construction that it is capable of being manu ally operated for releasing the shell. from the box from the exterior of the crypt independently of the lowering straps and devices ordinarily used;

More specifically speaking, it is another object of the invention to generally improve upon caskets of this class by provid-' ing one which embodies practical, simple and inexpensive means for temporarily so maintaining an attractive shell on the wooden box in which the body is placed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. V

In the accompanying drawings forming a part-of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same: I H

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a burial casket constructed in accordance with this invention. A

Figure2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure?) is a central verticallongitudinal section. V I

Figure4 is an enlarged detail. top plan 7 view of one of theconnecting devices between the shell and the box.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view with parts'in elevation and section showing the construction of one of the connecting devices more clearly.

, Figures 6 and 7 are sections taken on the lines 66 and 77 respectively of Figure 5. Figure 8 is a detail elevation of one of the anti-friction rollers. I

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the line .99 of Figure 8'.

In the drawings,the numeral'l designates an elongated wooden box which when in use, will be artistically and neatly lined .and'will have its exterior'highly polished. "As before indicated, this ,box is placed within what may be conveniently termed a shell 2 which i has its bottom open to permit removal of the box. The surface of this shell or sham as it may be sometimes'called, is intended to be covered with a cloth and is to resemble the types of caskets now commonly used.

. The idea of placing a box or the like tem porarily within a shell of the type'specified is, of'course, not new and as hereinbefore inferred, the novelty of the invention resides in the employment of practical and unique means for temporarily. connecting the box and shell together to permit thelatter to be removed from the box and withdrawn from the crypt after interment. Although the means under considerationcould be of some other construction, it preferably comprises a pluraiity of devices mounted on the op posed sides .of the shell, each device embodying a vertically disposed flat-faced'rod 3 which extendsthrough' a bore 4: which is formed in the side wall of the shell and I .rodcwhile the remaining recess 6 has an anchoring, plate positioned therein and held. in, place by suitablefa'stenings. This plate is, formed at its center: with an opening in which the reduced journal 9 on the lower end of the rod Bfis rotatable. A bracket 10 is secured to the inner face'of the wall of and this bracket isformed with a guide 11 the shell adjacent the upper edge thereof j arranged-in the aforesaid bore to permit passage of the upperend of the rotary rod therethrough. The last named end of the H rod is disposed to permit useof a suitable toolfor imparting rotation to the rodfrom her of these retainingdevices maybe -employed, there being-four'ofthem shown in the drawings, and two being. mountedon each opposedside wall of the shell.

theexterior of the crypt. Any desired numa in practice tov place suitable meansbetween terial;

the shell and boxto preventfthe latterfrom binding therein when it is desired to re-' lease and remove the shell from the crypt. The means shown comprises a'plurality of plates 12 secured to the ends and sidewalls of the shell, there being anti-friction rollers 13 mounted on these plates to bear against the sides of the box and to prevent binding ofthe latter.

In practice, the box 1 will be sold by a mortician, the same being highly polished 'on its exterior and delicately and attractivelylined withthe desired kinds of ma- The sham r shell will be placed around the box as disclosed in the drawings. This shell being-only temporary,v can be hired by: the mortician to the purchaser of the box for a comparatively small charge and when in place it will give the casket the general appearance of those now in use. When the parts are assembled, the supporting plates-7 extend- .benea-ththe bottom of the box land serve to detachably and'temporarily connect the box and shell together. IVhen the casket is moved from the house and placed in the. crypt and after the usual 'religious services areconcluded, a suitable long handled 'tool with a socket onthe end will be used for engaging and imparting rotation to the several bars 3 to retract or swing the supporting plates 7 into therecesses5, thus-permitting the shell to be aremoved from the. inner box and withdrawn from the grave for further use. It is to be noted the connecting devices are manually released at the desired time and do not in any way coact with the usual lowering straps or devices, v

From the foregoing. description it is obvious that I have devised anovel type of burial casket which is particularlydesirable for use by persons not ingood financial condition. A casket of this itype can be fur nished and the entire funeral completed for less than one half-0t the existing costs. Hence, the main teatureot the invention is clearly apparent. Furthermore, the type of v casket'he'rein described is practical and d e-- sirable over those now patented and-marketed and generally resembling an invention of this class. The box and shell are'securely held togetherfandcan be readily released.

However, thereis little 'or no liability of as cidental separation of these parts. Other features and advantages or" the invention have doubtless beenmade a parentfr'om the foregoing descripti'on'a'nd drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary. D

Since 'arobably the best results maybe ob tained with the construction and arrangenient herein shown and described, this is taken as thepreferred"embodiment of the invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes coming within the.

sham 2, may be provided with suitable covers orlids.

I claim 1. A burial casket comprising an open bottom shell having rigid relatively immovable sides, a box for containing the deceased arranged inside of the shell and removable through saidbottom, and co-a cti ng means between the shell and the box for detachably connecting the latter with the former, said means being manually'operated independent of the usual lowering straps or device from the exterior of the crypt.

2. In a burial casket of the type specified, means for connecting the box with theshell to permit disconnection of the former from thelatter when lowered into the crypt, said means comprising a plurality of rods adaptedto be rotatably mounted on the sides of the shell, and right-angularly disposed latches carried by the rods and designed to ixtend beneath and engage the bottom of the 3. In a burial casket of the type specified, means for connecting the box with the shell to permit separation of the box from the shell when the casket is lowered into the crypt, saidf connecting means comprising a plurality of rods adapted to extend vertically and crosswise of the sides (of the shell, said rods having their upper ends exposed and flattened to permit use of a tool for turning them, and means on the lower ends of the rodsfor engaging the box, said means being disengaged from the box when the rods are rotated. I

4. In a casket of the type specified, a shell having bores formed in its sides and opening through the upper and lower longitudinal edges thereof, flat-faced rods arranged in said bores and having their ends extending through the ends of the latter, means secured to the sides of saidsh'ell for-rotatably mounting said rods, and lateralextensions carried by saidrods for engaging the body carrier which is placed within said shell. 1 I

5. In a casket of the type specified, anoutside removable shell, rods rotatablyi'nounted on the opposed sides of said shell, the upper posed to permit engagement of tool 'therewith forrotating them, and right angularly disposedsupportlng members carried by said rods and engageable with the inner body carrier.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5', the

be removed through the open bottom of the shell.

tical bores opening through the upper and lower edges of said sides,ibrackets secured to said sides and having uides positioned in g g g In testimony whereof have hereunto set Y said bores, flat-faced re s arranged in said bores and extending rotatably throughff said' 10 uides,- the'sides of said shell adjacentthe lower edgesibeing formed with upper and, lower-recesses, plates arranged in the lower I ireoessandhaving bearing openings, said rods being provided with journals rotatable in said bearings and right angularly disand receivable in the upper recesses.

m hand; a 1, a a

' RUSSELL D. COOK.

1s posed supporting plates carried by said rods 

